Stacked valve system

ABSTRACT

A stacked valve system is herein provided. It includes a plurality of plastic valve bodies interconnected together. Each plastic valve body includes a central bore, adapted, when a plurality of valve bodies are so interconnected together, to provide a straight throughflow internal valve conduit chamber. A second bore is provided at right angles to the central bore, such second bore extending through the valve body from one face to the diametrically opposed face. The second bore is provided, at one face thereof, with an externally threaded hollow valve barrel, and at the other face thereof with a hollow post. The internal face of the bore at the hollow post is provided with an integrally premolded valve seat. A valve is associated with the valve barrel and the valve includes an internally threaded operator threaded onto the valve barrel. The operator includes a valve stem and a depending valve head adapted to seat on the valve seat. One of the hollow posts serves as an inlet to the flow conduit, while the other posts serve as outlets.

[ Jan. 29, 1974 1 STACKED VALVE SYSTEM Gerhard J. Dyck, Saskatoon,Saskatchewan, Canada [73] Assignee: Dyckes Sprinkler Co. Ltd.,

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada [22] Filed: July 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:269,739

[75] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 18, 1971 Canada 120828 [52]US. Cl. 137/271, 137/608 [51] Int. Cl. F17d 1/00, Fl6k 11/00 [58] Fieldof Search 137/608, 609, 270, 271; 251/273, 264

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,459,221 8/1969 Axelrod137/608 2,970,804 2/1961 Busby et a1. 251/190 X 3,589,387 6/1971 Raymond137/271 2,585,667 2/1952 Meador.... 251/273 X 2,630,292 3/1953 Skweir251/273 X 3,240,230 3/1966 Callahan, Jr. et al 137/608 3,298,396 l/1967Gressman et a1. 137/608 X 2,839,265 6/1958 Hobbs 251/191 X 3,556,147l/197l Sizer et a1. 137/608 Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott Attorney,Agent, or F irm-Craig and Antonelli [57] ABSTRACT A stacked valve systemis herein provided. It includes a plurality of plastic valve bodiesinterconnected together. Each plastic valve body includes a centralbore, adapted, when a plurality of valve bodies are so interconnectedtogether, to provide a straight throughflow internal valve conduitchamber. A second bore is provided at right angles to the central bore,such second bore extending through the valve body from one face to thediametrically opposed face. The second bore is provided, at one facethereof, with an externally threaded hollow valve barrel, and at theother face thereof with a hollow post. The internal face of the bore atthe hollow post is provided with an integrally premolded valve seat. Avalve is associated with the valve barrel and the valve includes aninternally threaded operator threaded onto the valve barrel. Theoperator includes a valve stem and a depending valve head adapted toseat on the valve seat. One of the hollow posts serves as an inlet tothe flow conduit, while the other posts serve as outlets.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures .2 I I L 1 STACKED VALVE SYSTEM BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates toimprovements in stacked valves. The stacked valve system of aspects ofthe present invention are all formed of extrusion molded plasticsmaterials.

2. Description of the Prior Art While rugged valves may be produced fromexpensive castings of iron, brass, aluminum, etc., it is believed thatthere are no plastic valves currently commercially available which aredesigned rugged and practical enough for both general and specific use,e.g., for such things as for house plumbing, for water spn'nkler systemsor for corrosive liquids, etc. For example, water sprinkler systemsconnected to house water systems usually require more than one valve.Each valve controls certain portions of the watered area. This isnecessary in order to maintain the correct Water pressure specified inthe sprinkler operations. The current practice is to assemble metalvalve assemblies which are either threaded or soldered. They areassembled as one main inlet from the water system of the house and haveas many outlets as are necessary for the lawn being watered. Eachoutlet, of course, requires one valve. This current assembly techniqueis very tedious and expensive.

In assembled stacked valves of one usual type, it has been the practiceto provide separate fastening means between adjacent valves and toprovide some sort of flexible or resilient means for maintaining thevalves in seated position. In communicating valves of another usual typewhere it is contemplated that a gauge is to be used to measure pressureor output from a series of connected tanks, the gauge has merely beenattached to the valve through a valve-controlled opening. These valvesare objectionable in that they have a number of parts to control and toassemble, the parts being liable to failure, are expensive to maintainand are not adapted to have interchangeable parts.

AIMS OF THE INVENTION An object of one aspect of this invention is toprovide an inexpensive valve of simple and rugged design in which thebody of the valve may be formed from a plastics material.

An object of another aspect of this invention is to provide stackedvalves of such character that they are simple and positive in design andoperation and inexpensive to make and maintain.

An object of a further aspect of this invention is to provide stackedvalves of such character that they may be readily assembled by a minimumof holding or fastening means.

An object of yet another aspect of this invention is to provide a fluidstacked valve system wherein a series of identical stacked valve bodiesmay be utilized to build up a manifold-type valve structure whichreceives fluid from a single source and discharges it to variousdifferent selected points of use, the number of such points of use beingeasily varied or predetermined by an easily accomplished change in thenumber of stacked valve bodies employed in the system.

An object of still another aspect of this invention is to provide astacked valve manifold arrangement wherein the stacked valve bodies canbe connected together in a compact relation without necessity for anyadapters or other similar mounting devices.

An object of a further aspect of this invention is to provide a stackedvalve assembly which does not leak at the joints, is easily assembledtogether, is sturdy after assembly, and is easily mounted in place on asupply duct without extraneous mounting brackets.

An object of a still further aspect of this invention is to provide astacked valve assembly having the desired features of low cost,usability in confined spaces, satisfactory service life, and one whichcan be easily manufactured, is very rugged, is non-corrosive, and withminor modifications can be put to many uses.

An object of a general aspect of the present invention is to provideimproved plastic stacked valves, valve fixtures and assemblies, whichare extremely simple to install, which can be installed with littleprobability of breakage, which will be efficient in operation and whichsimultaneously provide a conduit of unhindered throughflow.

Among the uses to which stacked valves of one aspect of this inventionmay be put is for sprinkler systems.

Another use to which stacked valves of another aspect of this inventionmay be put include use for handling corrosive liquids, as in potashmines, or use for clinical purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broad Statement of the Invention By a broadaspect of this invention, a valve system is provided which comprises asingle plastic valve body or a plurality of plastic valve bodiesinterconnected to gether, each plastic valve body including (a) acentral bore. Such central bore is adapted, when a plurality of valvebodies are interconnected together, to provide an unhindered straightthroughflow internal valve conduit chamber. (b) A second bore, at rightangles to the central bore, the second bore extending through the valvebody from one face to the diametrically opposed face. The second bore isprovided, at one face thereof, with an externally threaded hollow valvebarrel, and at the other face thereof is provided with a hollow post.The internal face of the bore at the hollow post is provided with anintegrally premolded valve seat. (c) A valve is associated with thevalve barrel. Such valve includes an internally threaded operatorthreaded onto the valve barrel. The operator includes a valve stem and adepending valve head adapted to seat on the valve seat. One of thehollow posts is an inlet to the flow conduit and the other posts can actas outlets.

Variants of the Invention In one embodiment, the leading face and thetrailing face of each plastic valve body are each provided with asemi-torroidal depression, so that an O-ring may be placed in sealingdisposition between adjacent valves when assembled and stacked.

In another embodiment, the leading face of each plastic valve body isprovided with a hollow stem, and the trailing face is provided with twodepressions. The first depression is designed to accommodate an O-ring.The second depression is designed to accommodate a hollow stem. In thisway, an O-ring may be placed in sealing disposition around the base ofthe hollow stem to mate with the first depression. This provides a morepositive liquid-tight seal between adjacent valves when they areassembled and stacked.

In either of these embodiments, the external threads on the hollow valvebarrel are of the type known as triple square helical threads, and thevalve operator, in turn, includes an internally threaded knob havingmating triple square helical threads.

Furthermore, in either of the aforementioned embodiments, the valveoperator includes a depending valve stem. A depending integralconnecting stem of lesser diameter than such valve stem is provided forpassage through the central longitudinal bore. This provides minimumresistance to liquid throughflow. A valve head is integrally connectedto the connecting stem. Such valve head includes a cylindrical portion,and an angled valve-seating portion.

Also, in any of the above embodiments, the valveseating portion isfitted with a sealing O-type ring and- /or the valve operator isprovided with an O-ring seal in sealing engagement with the valvebarrel.

In any of the above embodiments, the leading and trailing valve bodiesare provided with sealing end plates held thereon by through bolts andnuts.

By another aspect of this invention, a plastic valve body is provided.The valve body includes a first transverse bore and a second bore, atright angles to such first bore. The second bore extends through thevalve body from one face to the diametrically opposed face. The secondbore is provided,at an extension of one face thereof, with an externallythreaded hollow valve barre], and at the other face thereof with ahollow post. The internal face of the bore at the hollow post isprovided with an integrally premolded valve seat. A valve is associatedwith the valve barrel, such valve including an internally threadedoperator threaded onto the valve barrel. The operator includes a valvestem and a depending valve head adapted to seat on the valve seat. Aleading plate is provided for closing the leading face of the valve bodyacross the first bore and a trailing plate is provided for closing thetrailing face of the valve body across the first bore. The trailingplate carries an inlet conduit. The hollow post serves as an outlet flowconduit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Brief Description of the Drawings In theaccompanying drawings,

FIG. I is a general plan view of a stacked valve system of oneembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view, as in FIG. 1,. but without the valveoperators and conduit connections;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2:

FIG. 3 is an end view of the embodiment shwon in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a central longitudinal cross-section through a typical plasticvalve of the stacked valve of an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a view. particularly in central longitudinal section, of analternative structure of plastic valve body for use in providing thestacked valve system of an aspect of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a view, partially in central longitudinal section, of aplastic valve body used primarily as a single valve, without a pluralityof similar valve bodies in stacked configuration.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF FIG. 1

As seen in FIG. 1, the stacked valves of one aspect of this inventioncomprises a plurality (in this embodiment, five) valve bodies 100, 200,300, 400, 500. Valve body is shown as being the inlet control valve, and

so it includes an inlet conduit 1 10, controlled by a valve operatoroperated by knob 120. Each of the outlet valve bodies 200, 300, 400, 500is provided with an outlet conduit 210, 310, 410, 510, respectively,controlled by valve operators operated by knobs (hidden for valve bodies200 and 300) 420, 520, respectively. End valve bodies 400, 500 areprovided with end plates 430, 530, secured conduits 440 and540,respectively, to the stacked valve. The valve bodies 100, 200, 300,400, 500 are held together by bolt and nut combinations passing throughregistering holes in the valve bodies.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 2 AND 3 Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, itis seen that each valve body includes a main body portion 11, providedwith a central longitudinal conduit bore 12. Projecting transverselyfrom one face of body portion 11 is a hollow valve barrel 13,communicating with bore 12 in a manner to be described later, andprojecting transversely from the opposite face of body portion 11 is ahollow straight projecting stem 14, communicating with bore 12 in amanner to be described later. It is noted that the stem 14 on valvebodies 200 and 300 (namely stems 214 and 314) are shown to be in theform of elbow stems including a 90 bend therein, while the stem 14 onvalve bodies 400 and 500 (namely stems 414 and 514) are shown to bestraight projecting stems.

Each of valve barrels 13 is externally threaded at 15. While many formsof threads are possible, in some cases, it would be preferred that thethreads be triple square helixes l6, l7, 18 with corresponding helicalvalleys 21, 23, 25 therebetween. This type of thread provides the ample,rugged thread which is desirable for plastic valve construction.

Each stem 14 is provided with gripping means to enable a plastic conduitto be fitted over the stem and to be securely held thereby. As shown,the gripping means comprises one or more spaced-apart, outwardlycircumferentially projecting rings, in this case there being three suchrings 27, 29, 31.

As seen in FIG. 3, the valve bodies are held together by threaded bolts50 passing through registering apertures 52, and cooperating nuts 51.Any number of such bolt 50 nut 51 combinations may be used, even thoughfour such bolt 50 nut 51 combinations are provided for.

Surrounding the bore 12 within main body portion 1 l is a longitudinallyextending cylindrical body 33, provided with a longitudinally extendingannular depression 34. An O-type sealing ring (not shown) is adapted tobe disposed in adjacent depressions 34 when the valve bodies areassembled to provide the stacked valve, in order to provide awater-tight seal between adjacent valve bodies.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF FIG. 4

The structure of the valve operator is shown in FIG. 4. The-main bodyportion 1 I is provided with a longitudinally extending central conduitbore 12. Hollow valve barrel 13 communicates with the bore 12 by meansof co-extensive transverse bore 60, while hollow stem 14 communicateswith the bore 12 by means of coextensive transverse bore 61. Transversebore 61 includes an upper, enlarged valve bore 62, and an inwardlysloping valve seat bore 63 of any suitable angle, e.g., 3060 or 45leading to transverse bore 61.

The valve operator includes a main stem 64, adapted to fit snugly butmovably within bore 60. As shown in FIG. 4, an O-ring 80 fitting in arace 81 may be used to provide more positive liquid-tight sealing. Theupper end 65 of stem 64 passes through central aperture 66 in knob 67,to fix knob 67 to stem 64. Knob 67 is provided with an internallythreaded well 68. Any suitabletype threads may be used, but in thisexample, the internal threads are triple threads 69, 70, 71 to mate withthreads 16, 17, 18 of valve barrel l3.

Depending from stem 64 is a valve head 72, connected to the stem 64 byintegral connecting stem 76. Valve head 72 includes a cylindricalportion 73, adapted to seat within enlarged valve bore 62, and a matingseating portion 74, which may, for purposes of providing a more positiveseal, be fitted with a sealing O-type ring 75 adapted to seat withinvalve seat bore 63.

As shown in FIG. 4, the valve is in a partially opened condition.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF FIG. 5

An alternative structure is shown in FIG. 5, particularly useful forhigh pressure applications. The leading face 85 of a valve body 11 isprovided with a hollow stem 86, and resting at the base of the hollowstem 86 is an O-ring 87. The trailing face 88 of the valve body isprovided with a first depression 89 adapted to accommodate the O-ring,and a second depression 90, adapted to accommodate hollow stem 86. Thus,on assembly, hollow stem 86 fits into depression 90, O-ring 87 fits intodepression 89, and a positive liquid-tight seal is provided, when thevalve bodies are stacked and secured together.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF FIG. 6

As shown in FIG. 6, the valve bodies may be used singly, and need not bestacked as in the preferred embodiment of this invention. As seen inFIG. 6, the valve body 600 (whose internal structure is as shown in FIG.4) is provided with a valve operator 667 threaded, by internal thread671 onto threads 668 on the exterior of a hollow valve barrel 613. Anoutlet conduit 620 is provided which is secured to conduit 614. One endface of valve body 600 is closed by plate 630 while the other end faceis provided with an inlet conduit 610 and a closing plate 640. Theplates 630 and 640 are held together by through bolts 650 and nuts 651.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY OF INDIVIDUAL VALVES AS IN FIGS. 1 AND2 The stacked valve shown in FIG. 1 may be interconnected in such a wayas to control the flow of water to different areas for water sprinkling.Valve body 100 includes a main inlet line 110 connected, e.g. to ahousehold water main. Four (or more) valve bodies 200, 300, 400, 500 areconnected on either side of the valve 110 with the straight-throughbores 12 being interconrespectively are rotated to adjust the respectivevalves 500 so that the requisite amount of water at the requisitepressure flows out of the outlet lines 210 510. Outlet lines 210, 310would feed two underground sprinkler systems. The end plates 430, 530may be metal or plastic.

The stacked valve is thus assembled from similar valve bodies in such amanner that the valve bodies can be assembled by the simple technique offitting them over the through bolts and tightening the through bolt onas many valve bodies as required using the nuts 51.

GENERAL NATURE OF THE INVENTION The threaded valve assembly provides themain source of strength and is one of the main features of this design.Because the thread is molded in the main body, the diameter can be anysize necessary to withstand the shear strength of the plastics material.For maximum strength, the thread may be of the types known as buttress,acme, or square thread.

This ganged valve is extremely functional in that the through bolts tietogether the assembly sealing the 0- type ring between adjacent valvebodies. The valve bodies are relatively easy to produce by injectionmolding and having the advantages of plastic valves, including corrosionresistance, etc.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easilyascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changesand modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages andconditions. Consequently, such changes and modifications are properly,equitably and intended to be, within the full range of equivalence ofthe following claims.

I claim:

1. A valve comprising:

a. a plastic valve body including i. a longitudinally extending mainbody having longitudinally spaced apart ends thereof, each end adaptedto engage abuttingly with an end of a similar valve when alignedlongitudinally therewith;

ii. an externally threaded valve barrel integral with and projectingtransversely from one side of said main body;

iii. a post integral with and projecting transversely from an oppositeside of said main body and aligned with said valve barrel;

iv. a first bore extending longitudinally through said main body andpositioned so as to be longitudinally aligned with the first bore of asimilar valve body when respective ends of the two valve bodies arelongitudinally aligned and in abutting engagement;

v. a second bore extending transversely through said valve barrel, saidmain body and said post and intersecting said first bore; and

vi. a valve seat in said second bore intermediate said first bore andsaid post;

b. an internally threaded valve operator threaded onto said valvebarrel;

0. a valve stem disposed coaxially within said second bore and mountedon said operator, said stem including i. a main stem portion adjacentsaid valve operator and dimensioned to be a sliding fit within saidsecond bore; and

ii. a connecting stern portion extending from an end of said main stemportion remote from said operator and having a diameter less than thediameter of said main stem portion and. less than the diameter of saidfirst bore; and

d. a valve head engageable with said valve seat and mounted on the freeend of said connecting stem portion of said valve stem, said head beingdimensioned to be a sliding fit within said second bore intermediate thevalve seat and the first bore.

2. A valve as claimed in claim 1 and further including a first platesecured to said main body and closing an end of said first bore, asecond plate secured to said main body and having an aperturetherethrough in communication with an opposite end of said first bore,and a conduit secured to said second plate such that said first borecommunicates in fluid-flow relation with the interior of said conduitthrough said aperture.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the external surface of said mainbody has a pair of annular recesses formed therein, said recessesdisposed about the respective opposite ends of said first bore wherebyan annular seal member may be disposed in the recesses of two adjacentand interconnected valves.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said valve body includes: a hollowstern integral with, and projecting from, said main body and alignedwith the first bore through said main body whereby the interior of saidhollow stem communicates in fluid-flow relationship with one end of saidfirst bore; an annular recess in the external surface of said main bodydisposed about the opposite end of said bore and adapted to receive anannular seal member; and a cylindrical recess in said main body disposedbetween said annular recess and said first bore and adapted to receivethe hollow stem of an adjacent valve.

5. The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein the external threads on saidhollow valve barrel comprise triple square helical threads and whereinthe valve operator comprises an internally threaded knob having matingtriple square helical threads.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve head includesa seating portion and an annular seal mounted on said seating portion.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve stemcomprises: a main stem portion adjacent said valve operator and aconnecting stem portion intermediate said main stem portion and saidvalve head, said main stem portion being shaped and dimensioned to be asliding fit within said second bore and having an annular peripheralrecess therein, and an annular seai member disposed within said recessand engaging said second bore in a sealing manner.

8. A stacked valve system comprising a plurality of interconnectedvalves, each valve comprising:

a. a plastic valve body including i. a longitudinally extending mainbody having longitudinally extending spaced apart ends thereof, each endadapted to engage abuttingly with the adjacent end of an adjacent one ofsaid valves, at least one of said ends being so engaged;

ii. an externally threaded valve barrel integral with, and projectingtransversely from, one side of said main body;

iii. a post integral with, and projecting transversely from, an oppositeside of said main body and aligned with said valve barrel;

iv. a first bore extending longitudinally through said main body andcommunicating in end-toend relationship with the first bore of eachadjacent valve;

v. a second bore extending transversely through said valve barrel, saidmain body and said post and intersecting said first bore; and

vi. a valve seat in said second bore intermediate said first bore andsaid post;

b. an internally threaded valve operator threaded onto said valvebarrel;

0. a valve stem disposed coaxially within said second bore and mountedon said operator, said stem including:

i. a main stem portion adjacent said valve operator and dimensioned tobe a sliding fit within said second bore; and

ii. a connecting stem portion extending from an end of said main stemportion remote from said operator and having a diameter less than thediameter of said main stem portion and less than the diametertof saidfirst bore; and

d. a valve head engageable with said valve seat and mounted on the freeend of said connecting stem portion of said valve stem;

said system further comprising connector means extending longitudinallythrough all of said valve bodies so as to maintain said valve bodies inlongitudinally aligned abutting engagement.

9. The stacked valve system of claim 8 wherein said plurality of valvesincludes at least a leading valve and a trailing valve, each securedonly to one other valve of said plurality of valves, said system furthercomprising a pair of end plates one of which is secured to a face of theleading valve to close the open end of the first bore thereof, and theother of which is secured to a face of the trailing valve to close theopen end of the first bore of the trailing valve.

1. A valve comprising: a. a plastic valve body including i. alongitudinally extending main body having longitudinally spaced apartends thereof, each end adapted to engage abuttingly with an end of asimilar valve when aligned longitudinally therewith; ii. an externallythreaded valve barrel integral with and projecting transversely from oneside of said main body; iii. a post integral with and projectingtransversely from an opposite side of said main body and aligned withsaid valve barrel; iv. a first bore extending longitudinally throughsaid main body and positioned so as to be longitudinally aligned withthe first bore of a similar valve body when respective ends of the twovalve bodies are longitudinally aligned and in abutting engagement; v. asecond bore extending transversely through said valve barrel, said mainbody and said post and intersecting said first bore; and vi. a valveseat in said second bore intermediate said first bore and said post; b.an internally threaded valve operator threaded onto said valve barrel;c. a valve stem disposed coaxially within said second bore and mountedon said operator, said stem including i. a main stem portion adjacentsaid valve operator and dimensioned to be a sliding fit within saidsecond bore; and ii. a connecting stem portion extending from an end ofsaid main stem portion remote from said operator and having a diameterless than the diameter of said main stem portion and less than thediameter of said first bore; and d. a valve head engageable with saidvalve seat and mounted on the free end of said connecting stem portionof said valve stem, said head being dimensioned to be a sliding fitwithin said second bore intermediate the valve seat and the first bore.2. A valve as claimed in claim 1 and further including a first platesecured to said main body and closing an end of said first bore, asecond plate secured to said main body and having an aperturetherethrough in communication with an opposite end of said first bore,and a conduit secured to said second plate such that said first borecommunicates in fluid-flow relation with the interior of said conduitthrough said aperture.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the externalsurface of said main body has a pair of annular recesses formed therein,said recesses disposed about the respective opposite ends of said firstbore whereby an annular seal member may be disposed in the recesses oftwo adjacent and interconnected valves.
 4. The invention of claim 1wherein said valve body includes: a hollow stem integral with, andprojecting from, said main body and aligned with the first bore throughsaid main body whereby the interior of said hollow stem communicates influid-flow relationship with one end of said first bore; an annularrecess in the external surface of said main body disposed about theopposite end of said bore and adapted to receive an annular seal member;and a cylindrical recess in said main body disposed between said annularrecess and said first bore and adapted to receive the hollow stem of anadjacent valve.
 5. The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein the externalthreads on said hollow valve barrel comprise triple square helicalthreads and wherein the valve operator comprises an internally threadedknob having mating triple square helical threads.
 6. The invention asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said valve head includes a seating portionand an annular seal mounted on said seating portion.
 7. The invention asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said valve stem comprises: a main stemportion adjacent said valve operator and a connecting stem portionintermediate said main stem portion and said valve head, said main stemportion being shaped and dimensioned to be a sliding fit within saidsecond bore and having an annular peripheral recess therein, and anannular seal member disposed within said recess and engaging said secondbore in a sealing manner.
 8. A stacked valve system comprising aplurality of interconnected valves, each valve comprising: a. a plasticvalve body including i. a longitudinally extending main body havinglongitudinally extending spaced apart ends thereOf, each end adapted toengage abuttingly with the adjacent end of an adjacent one of saidvalves, at least one of said ends being so engaged; ii. an externallythreaded valve barrel integral with, and projecting transversely from,one side of said main body; iii. a post integral with, and projectingtransversely from, an opposite side of said main body and aligned withsaid valve barrel; iv. a first bore extending longitudinally throughsaid main body and communicating in end-to-end relationship with thefirst bore of each adjacent valve; v. a second bore extendingtransversely through said valve barrel, said main body and said post andintersecting said first bore; and vi. a valve seat in said second boreintermediate said first bore and said post; b. an internally threadedvalve operator threaded onto said valve barrel; c. a valve stem disposedcoaxially within said second bore and mounted on said operator, saidstem including: i. a main stem portion adjacent said valve operator anddimensioned to be a sliding fit within said second bore; and ii. aconnecting stem portion extending from an end of said main stem portionremote from said operator and having a diameter less than the diameterof said main stem portion and less than the diameter of said first bore;and d. a valve head engageable with said valve seat and mounted on thefree end of said connecting stem portion of said valve stem; said systemfurther comprising connector means extending longitudinally through allof said valve bodies so as to maintain said valve bodies inlongitudinally aligned abutting engagement.
 9. The stacked valve systemof claim 8 wherein said plurality of valves includes at least a leadingvalve and a trailing valve, each secured only to one other valve of saidplurality of valves, said system further comprising a pair of end platesone of which is secured to a face of the leading valve to close the openend of the first bore thereof, and the other of which is secured to aface of the trailing valve to close the open end of the first bore ofthe trailing valve.